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Hello my name is Jerral Campfield and this web site is dedicated to Moral Recognition Therapy using Biblical principles. Please come back often to join me in understanding Gods hands are outstretched still to forgive. |
Acts 22 " What a story" |
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Contributed by Jerral Campfield
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Thursday, 20 October 2016 |
Thank the Lord
for every opportunity we have to speak to people about the love of the Lord and
here Paul gets the crowd to quite down, so he could be heard above the displeasure
that was going on. It is never easy to get your point across to people that do
not want to hear the truth, but now we see Paul is able to talk to the People
in their own language. His tongue is not tied up, but able to speak freely of
what was happening even through most did not understand his passion for what
was happening, as he was not desecrating the Temple, but showing respect for
what God was doing.
Acts
22:1-30 (NKJV) 1 "Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you
now." Here
he is in front of people that are totally against him and he addresses them as
brethren and fathers, who where just like him and had feeling as well about
what was going on. He was not going to scold them, but show he loved them all
just as a brother and even a father loving his children.
2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew
language, they kept all the more silent. The Lord is always going to
bless when we are able to speak person to person, even though we many times
need a translator today. I would of liked to be able to talk in every language,
I ministered to in prisons and jails for it is more personal, but I needed someone
to interrupt what I was saying, but thank the Lord language does not need to be
a bearer and it is always best to be able to communicate in a person language,
but you have to be taught or learn a tongue, unless the Holy Spirit give you
the tongue to speak; like in 1 Corinthians 14:1 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew
language, they kept all the more silent. The Lord is always going to
bless when we are able to speak person to person, even though we many times
need a translator today. I would of liked to be able to talk in every language,
I ministered to in prisons and jails for it is more personal, but I needed someone
to interrupt what I was saying, but thank the Lord language does not need to be
a bearer and it is always best to be able to communicate in a person language,
but you have to be taught or learn a tongue, unless the Holy Spirit give you
the tongue to speak; like in 1 Corinthians 14:1 Then
he said: 3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia,
but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the
strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are
today. I
am one of you and should not be treated like a beast, but a man, not a barbarian,
but a man born in Tarus as a free man from an honorable city. I have something
to say and not to be trampled on, for I am not a fool, for I have been taught
by scholars like Gamaliel a Doctor of the Law. He showed he was not a Sadducee
but was, but now very zealous towards God as you are this day.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering
into prisons both men and women,
5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the
council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and
went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to
be punished. Here he showed
what he was like in the past, as he was a part of the great Sanhedrin, the
priest and those that ruled, wanting
them to know the hate he had for the Christians, but something happen to allow
him to be converted by his experience of hearing a voice and a bright light
that blinded him.
6 Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at
about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' Notice how suddenly God intervenes, for remember He is
everywhere all the time and we can’t escape thinking it is going to go away; it
ok. Sin is never going to go away, for we live in a world of sin and shame and
here at broad day light, a Light appears and blinds Saul and He cannot see. The
Jews knew that the Lord is the Light of the world and here the light is so
bright it leaves Saul blind and has to be lead to Damascus. Not only did the
light get his attention, but a voice calling out his name Saul, Saul why are
you persecuting me? Faith comes by
hearing and Saul heard and had to answer for himself. Everyone God created has
to answer to God for what they say and do for we can’t blame anyone for not
doing good, we are all accountable to God who created us to be good.
8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am
Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
9 And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were
afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. It is still a mystery how some can
accept the way, truth and life and others can’t reach out and believe. We all have a spirit that wants Gods love,
mercy and grace, or we want to live our lives for selfish reasons. He is in a
perplexing position now blind yet hearing a voice, now what’s going to happen
next.
10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to
me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which
are appointed for you to do.' Saul is an individual as everyone God
created and we need to ask ourselves the question, what is the reason I am here
with the skin color I have, the knowledge and understanding I have and do what I
want to, become better and better or do I want to become bitter. What a choice
we all have to make as we go through life. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering
into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the
council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and
went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to
be punished. Here he showed
what he was like in the past, as he was a part of the great Sanhedrin, the
priest and those that ruled, wanting
them to know the hate he had for the Christians, but something happen to allow
him to be converted by his experience of hearing a voice and a bright light
that blinded him. 6 Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at
about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' Notice how suddenly God intervenes, for remember He is
everywhere all the time and we can’t escape thinking it is going to go away; it
ok. Sin is never going to go away, for we live in a world of sin and shame and
here at broad day light, a Light appears and blinds Saul and He cannot see. The
Jews knew that the Lord is the Light of the world and here the light is so
bright it leaves Saul blind and has to be lead to Damascus. Not only did the
light get his attention, but a voice calling out his name Saul, Saul why are
you persecuting me? Faith comes by
hearing and Saul heard and had to answer for himself. Everyone God created has
to answer to God for what they say and do for we can’t blame anyone for not
doing good, we are all accountable to God who created us to be good. 8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am
Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' 9 And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were
afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. It is still a mystery how some can
accept the way, truth and life and others can’t reach out and believe. We all have a spirit that wants Gods love,
mercy and grace, or we want to live our lives for selfish reasons. He is in a
perplexing position now blind yet hearing a voice, now what’s going to happen
next. 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to
me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which
are appointed for you to do.' Saul is an individual as everyone God
created and we need to ask ourselves the question, what is the reason I am here
with the skin color I have, the knowledge and understanding I have and do what I
want to, become better and better or do I want to become bitter. What a choice
we all have to make as we go through life. God tells him
arise and go on to Damascus and someone will tell you what you need to do,
notice he had to continue on not to persecute, but to be a blessing. What a
change for the simple reason the light came on in his life and he had faith to
be lead by hand to Damascus. Lord help us to see many times we are in the dark
of what is going on and many time it’s scary, but Lord, help me to just trust
You and obey your request. 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light,
being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. Saul
could not see for the glory of the light, God got his attention and it was a
revelation of the way, truth and life that God has in store for all His
creation. Condemned sinners are struck blind by the power of darkness to sinning
and continue on with their addictions, until they see the insanity of their
behaviors and attitudes and want to even be lead into the light by the Spirit
that is within men and women, that have been walking in the Light, so here he
has to depend on those leading him and upon the person he is going to see in
Damascus who is going help him see the light of walking with God. Now Saul was
a Pharisee who felt like even doing what he was doing was walking in the light.
How sly Satan is causing us to think that wrong is right and right is wrong.
This is happening around the world and people are being terrorized by people
that think they are doing what is necessary to have freedom and liberty that
brings justice to all and it is causing society around the world to crumble
before our eyes. 12 Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law,
having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul,
receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. Notice a
certain man; Ananias one who was not prejudiced against the Jewish nation or
religion, but was devoted to the ways of the Lord. He came to Saul and said,
Brother Saul; a word showing endearment and respect, receive you sight. That is
faith in action, Saul look up and sees clearly Ananias. What a miracle for Saul
to experience the miracle of seeing a Light and a voice from heaven, assured
him of God’s mercy, grace and love that was not what came from man, but God and
God alone! 14 Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that
you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His
mouth. Saul was chosen by God for a reason that now he is walking in the
light, his testimony was going to become a powerful voice in building the
kingdom of God. It seems like all through the Scripture God called specific
people for specific reasons, when others are going through tremendous
perplexities like Israel during the time of Moses, David in the time of Kings,
Isaiah in the time of the prophets, Daniel in the time of the Minor Prophets
and John in crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord and repent
now and turn from your wicked ways. The great Evangelist like Spurgeon, Wesley,
White Field, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, Frankly Graham and the list goes on
for many are called to minister to the many and the few. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have
seen and heard. We will never know the power of the Spirit of God and
what He does in the hearts of those that call upon Him and begin to be ambassadors
for the kingdom of God. Saul here did not know yet the mysteries that where in
front of him as he journeyed around the then know world. How many did he influence
for the Lord will never be known. What you’re doing as a representative of the
Kingdom of God will never be known until we get to heaven and receive our reward
for the work accomplished on earth, while we were alive and will.
16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' Here they are waiting and Saul is instructed to arise and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Thank the Lord for the Holy Spirit of God that God wants to see be a part of your life, for it is only the Holy Spirit that enables us to know the truth and the life, so you’re not fooled by the enemy Satan. Saul needed to be smirched in the Lord completely under the water of the Holy Spirit now and forever, so it is not I, but Christ living in him and us. The Holy Spirit is the comforter and the Comforter is need to day to keep one on track for what is ahead of us, as children of the Lord. 17 Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.' What a interesting word in a trance; for your out of your normal mind and taken over by the Holy Spirit of God, as if your transported into the very presence of God. When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, sometimes it feels like you’re in a trance, worshipping the Lord and yet people are all around you, but you’re not aware of others, for the presence of God has you wrapped up in His loving hands. I have experienced the presence of the Lord so strongly that I fell prostrate on my face before the Lord and did not hurt my body at all. As if a gentle hand of the Lord laid me down. Now today you see preacher or evangelist have catcher to help people fall down without getting hurt. With God nothing is impossible, so Lord help us to leave ourselves in Your hands, to do for us what every needs to be done, so we can be that ambassador that brings glory and honor to the Lord. Remember John when he was on the Island of Patmos wrote revelation being in a trace, for he needed the Lords words to describe what was going to happen in these end times. The word trance is shown 156 different occurrences in the Bible, so should be no mystery to the Church. Lord help us not to seek for a trance, but seek the Lord our Gods will for all our bodies, souls and spirits, for they are created by God, to use for His glory. We are seeing drugs today that put one into a trance and they never know what is going to happen next, for many time people become like brute beast of pry. Alcohol and lusts for things put a person into the control of Satan and they can resist the urge for more of the same expecting different reactions and it becomes insane for people do not know how to stop the behavior and attitude of wanting more of the same damnable pill! 19 So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. It seems to be natural for us to assume more than what is necessary for we like to think in terms of the worst of situations and many times it is not true, here Paul is knowing full well that people have not forgotten what he did in the past and it began to scare him of going on being a apostle or disciple of the Lords. 20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.' Here Saul is really getting personal as he calls to mind what he did when Stephen was stoned, as he guarded the clothes of those throwing stones and encourage the death of Stephen. It is strange how our minds work when they are given over to fleshly desires and thoughts, for the simple reason we are more natural than spiritual and need to make sure that the Spiritual man is over the soul and body, so we can bear good fruit. 21 Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' " Thank the Lord, He certainly knows how to get our attention, if we are in the place of wanting the Lords will to be done. The Lord seems to know what we need to get a fire going so we can burn the evil out that is around us. 22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!"Notice Saul was talking out loud and people where listening and began to be concerned, when he stepped on their feeling and could not take it any longer and wanted to do away with this man Saul. It seems like we are living in an period of time when the truth does not want to be known, for it takes away the benefits of being like God and we become like Satan and want to get rid of all morality and Godliness from society. So Ministers of the Gospel are being persecuted and threatened like never before in my life time. Right is totally wrong and wrong is totally right and our world is being controlled by lack of discipline in every area of society. It seems like no one is able to stop that onslaught of evil and the world is looking for a leader to help them out and we are at the place it is only the Anti Christ that is able to rein this terror in. Yet I feel very strongly the Church is going to be raptured and the Jew and non believer are going to go through 7 years of tribulation, until the Lord is going to say that is enough and let the Church rein for a thousand year where peace is going to reign. Lord help us to see the signs that are pointing to your soon return, so we are not deceived and perplexed without hope, but have faith and hope in God to bless our world as we repent and turn from our wicked ways. 23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. Here where peace was reigning all of a sudden rebellion begins to raise its ugly head and people are rioting and scourging what was right and able to benefit all. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?" Here is a typical picture of what happen when people are out of control, it takes some one with a loud voice to corral feeling back into a place where people can think and get a hold of the truth. This is skill that comes as we are guided by the Holy Spirit of God. 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, "Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman." The centurion was listening and knew they were out of order and bought order back into play and that the Lord we have people around the world that are sensitive to what is going on and are able to being order back into the atmosphere where there are level heads. 27 Then the commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes." Thank the Lord when the Christian is question he has an answer given to Him by the Lord. Thank the Lord it is always the truth that sets us free from the tactic of Satan. 28 The commander answered, "With a large sum I obtained this citizenship." And Paul said, "But I was born a citizen." It is one thing to know the truth and another to walk in the truth and Paul did not have to buy his way into being a Jew he was by birth a Jew. 29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. 30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them. We will never know the amount of times the Lord delivered us from our accusers, for it seem we are seeing many people accuse the Church of wrong behavior and actions without the knowledge of what is really going on and yet the hands of the Lord are outstretched giving the protection needed in such a time as this. So I trust as you are reading this account of Saul whose name is changed to Paul are renewing your faith in God for when we trust in God we can expect miracle to happen that will give others the opportunity to come to the knowledge of the Lord for themselves so the Kingdom of God can grow around the world. Blessing to you as you accept the Holy Spirit of God to lead and guide you into all truth! |
Copyright 2005 Jerral Campfield, All rights reserved.
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